For individuals who are planning to pursue a career in radiography, there are various factors that will affect your salary and employment including the location of the job, level of education, experience and your employer.

Radiographer Salary

Salary estimates of radiology technicians are quite attractive. In the year 2008, the average salary of employees in the field of radiology in the US alone range from $16.87 to $36.04 every hour, which is also equivalent to $35,100 and up to $74,970 annually. For a field of profession that is looking forward to a strong growth, these numbers are important to take note when it comes to deciding your future career.

For professionals in this field who are planning to go ahead to higher positions like administrator, radiologic assistant, director or even beyond, the reward can be really high. You can start with your career in radiology as a radiologic technician after finishing your bachelor’s degree and completing certifications. Being certified in this field can actually let you achieve a good salary and stability. Pursuing higher education can of course lead to even more opportunities and higher salary rates.

Radiology Technician Job Outlook

While the number of people that retire in the US increase each year, the healthcare industry is experiencing an increase in health related jobs. According to statistics, medical fields that are part of radiology technology are said to experience an increased rate of growth around 14 to 19 percent in the next 8 years.

Employees who have specialized knowledge on multiple areas will normally have the best marketable skills for employment. The ability to carry out MRI scans and CT scans appear to be very appealing for employers who want to use different equipment. Also, with the consistent increase in the technology, equipment related to medicine are ever-advancing, meaning the demand of technicians that can operate and maintain these will increase. Presently, hospitals account for the majority of hired radiography technicians, followed by private companies, outpatient care centers, diagnostic laboratories, then military facilities.

A very significant factor that is frequently overlooked is the location of the job. People who are willing to transfer to different places usually have the greatest chances of getting the job in their particular field. Like with other jobs, there are places that are saturated and there are also places that are deficient in radiology technicians. According to surveys, the states with the largest number of employees in the field of radiology are Tennessee, West Virginia, Kentucky, South Dakota and Rhode Island.